"If there's anyone who still has a modicum of redemption left in their life, it's a juvenile."

That is a very profound statement I'm in wholehearted agreement with. As the article mentioned, at that age, these minors are mentally less developed in every way. What lifetime imprisonment is going to do to them is just cause and perpetuate more pain and suffering. It's enough that America is already so heavy-handed with its criminal justice system towards adults, but to bring down that level of severity on underdeveloped kids who still have the time and chance to make their lives right again.... That's something very wrong. Rehabilitation does not mean bestowing undeserved mercy to some evil SOB, it means that the wrongdoer learns remorse and more importantly, is able to go back into society and be a productive member and hopefully start to make efforts to redeem him/herself for the one evil act committed in his/her youth. Not to say that this undermines the seriousness of the crime first committed, but it hardly makes sense to balance out death and suffering with more suffering and death. Take a look at Norway's system that focuses more on rehabilitation rather than retribution: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/art...